Who knew action figures could be so expressive? The trailer for a fan-made Batman film called "Batman: Dark Knightfall" uses toys to create a dark battle between Gotham's forces of good and the Joker's evil minions.

Everything from the lighting to the music to the movement of the figures is full of moody, broody atmosphere. What makes this unusual stop-motion project work is the super-realistic action figures. The 12-inch figures made by Hot Toys turn the trailer into a creepy romp through the Uncanny Valley.

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You can even see the texture on the Heath Ledger Joker's makeup job. These action figures don't come cheap, running up to several hundred dollars per figure. Judging by the video results, that investment is worth it. There's even a nod to Jack Nicholson's Joker portrayal.

Stop-motion films are notoriously time-consuming to make, but the team behind the trailer is promising a full version soon.

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Freelance writer Amanda C. Kooser covers gadgets and tech news with a twist for CNET's Crave blog. When not wallowing in weird gadgets and iPad apps for cats, she can be found tinkering with her 1956 DeSoto.
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